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A "dish" antenna one meter (39.37 inches) or less in diameter (or any size dish if located in Alaska), designed to receive direct broadcast satellite service, including direct-to-home satellite service, or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals via satellite.
An antenna that is one meter or less in diameter and is designed to receive video programming services via broadband radio service (wireless cable), or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals other than via satellite.
An antenna that is designed to receive local television broadcast signals. Antennas used for AM/FM radio, amateur (“ham”) radio, CB radio, Digital Audio Radio Services (“DARS”) or antennas used as part of a hub to relay signals among multiple locations are not covered by these rules.

What Types of Properties Are Covered?

Under the OTARD rules, an owner or a tenant has the right to install an antenna (that meets size limitations) on property that he owns or over which he has exclusive use or control. This includes single family homes, condominiums, cooperatives, townhomes and manufactured homes. In the case of condominiums, cooperatives and rental properties, the rules apply to “exclusive use” areas, like terraces, balconies or patios. “Exclusive use” refers to an area of the property that only the renter and people allowed by the renter may enter and use. If the area is shared with others or accessible without the renter’s permission, it is not considered to be an exclusive use area.
(( If thers is no areas that any renter has for Exclusive use areas in your apartments))
OTARD rules do not apply to common areas that are owned by a landlord, a community association or jointly by condominium owners. These common areas may include the roof or exterior walls of a multiple dwelling unit. Under certain conditions, if a common antenna is available for use by residents, then the community association or landlord may prohibit the installation of an individually-owned antenna or satellite dish, provided the signal quality from the central antenna is as good as the signal quality from an individually-owned antenna or dish, and the costs of using the central antenna are no greater than the costs of an individually-owned antenna or dish.
((then by by satellites))

A "dish" antenna one meter (39.37 inches) or less in diameter (or any size dish if located in Alaska), designed to receive direct broadcast satellite service, including direct-to-home satellite service, or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals via satellite.An antenna that is one meter or less in diameter and is designed to receive video programming services via broadband radio service (wireless cable), or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals other than via satellite.An antenna that is designed to receive local television broadcast signals. Antennas used for AM/FM radio, amateur (“ham”) radio, CB radio, Digital Audio Radio Services (“DARS”) or antennas used as part of a hub to relay signals among multiple locations are not covered by these rules.

What Types of Properties Are Covered?

Under the OTARD rules, an owner or a tenant has the right to install an antenna (that meets size limitations) on property that he owns or over which he has exclusive use or control. This includes single family homes, condominiums, cooperatives, townhomes and manufactured homes. In the case of condominiums, cooperatives and rental properties, the rules apply to “exclusive use” areas, like terraces, balconies or patios. “Exclusive use” refers to an area of the property that only the renter and people allowed by the renter may enter and use. If the area is shared with others or accessible without the renter’s permission, it is not considered to be an exclusive use area.(( If thers is no areas that any renter has for Exclusive use areas in your apartments))OTARD rules do not apply to common areas that are owned by a landlord, a community association or jointly by condominium owners. These common areas may include the roof or exterior walls of a multiple dwelling unit. Under certain conditions, if a common antenna is available for use by residents, then the community association or landlord may prohibit the installation of an individually-owned antenna or satellite dish, provided the signal quality from the central antenna is as good as the signal quality from an individually-owned antenna or dish, and the costs of using the central antenna are no greater than the costs of an individually-owned antenna or dish.((then by by satellites))

OTARD doesn't specify the removal of anything. Quite the opposite, it empowers the tenant do do what they need to do to receive a signal.

The "law" you're looking for must be incorporated (directly or by reference) into the rental/lease contract. Most contracts have some manner of no attachments or restoration to original condition clause.

If your contract doesn't include any such language, you're out of luck.

Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. -- JFK

My daughter got notice Tuesday to remove her dish by Thursday because the apartment complex wants to replace the deck railing. (glad she wasn't on vacation). They also notified her they will be enforcing rules that the dish cannot be attached to any part of the building, tripod only. This sucks for her because I have tried a tripod and it will not work because of the soffit overhang. I installed a DirecTV rail mount that has worked fine for 2 years. The dish has to be as close to the rail as possible to clear the soffit. Even 1 ft. difference gives her LOS. Any ideas on how to get the 2" pipe as close to the rail as possible without touching it? Could Comcast be behind this because this will probably eliminate 20+ dishes that are rail mounted. Funny they have no issue with Comcast drilling holes and running wires everywhere.

......Could Comcast be behind this because this will probably eliminate 20+ dishes that are rail mounted. Funny they have no issue with Comcast drilling holes and running wires everywhere.

Wouldn't suprise me if that were the case. I used to service many customers at a local 360 unit complex. About 3 years ago, without giving any reason, the manager informed me that I was no longer allowed to install dishes on the property. I had become friends with one of the maintainance guys over the previous few years. He told me that the manager had struck a deal with Charter Comm. where he would get paid up to $100 for each resident that signed up for service. A large number of the tenants are South Asian and Arabic. The manager would not even allow me to post info about DISH's new DishWorld IPTV International Programming service. (no dish required)

Not that actual one though, since it is only a 1.66" OD tube (Slimline needs a 2" tube).

Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."
-by Jack Handy

Thanks for the ideas! I ordered this one yesterday. It is a little pricey but will be worth it if I get it to work. I am concerned at the 3 ft height. The pole I use now is 4 ft to clear the railing. I might have to do some modification to get the dish at a 4ft height.

I saw your picks (Page 27). I have to have a straight pole and the LNB will have to extend over the rail to hit the satellites. The letter I saw yesterday said the dish could not be attached but nothing about extending over.

It is funny that I saw at least 5 installations on apartments that had the new railing installed. Their enforcement person is going to be busy.

I believe that technically, nothing is permitted to extend over and that a landlord can require one's entire dish, including the LNB, to be within one's exclusive property. Nevertheless, I'd let your landlord worry about that.

I also saw something so dumb I could not believe it yesterday. When I took down the dish I needed to set up a OTA antenna (rabbit ears) so my daughter at least has some TV to watch. Her Westinghouse 46" LCD TV would not do a OTA channel scan without getting an access code from Westinghouse! I did a web search and found you could sent a text message to get a code. Tried that and it did not work, but they gave you a phone number to call. Tried that and it didn't work but it gave a web address. Finally was able to get a code by putting in the model number and serial number. Why in the world would they require an access code to get a TV to scan for OTA channels? I don't get it.

I also saw something so dumb I could not believe it yesterday. When I took down the dish I needed to set up a OTA antenna (rabbit ears) so my daughter at least has some TV to watch. Her Westinghouse 46" LCD TV would not do a OTA channel scan without getting an access code from Westinghouse! I did a web search and found you could sent a text message to get a code. Tried that and it did not work, but they gave you a phone number to call. Tried that and it didn't work but it gave a web address. Finally was able to get a code by putting in the model number and serial number. Why in the world would they require an access code to get a TV to scan for OTA channels? I don't get it.

I've never heard of something so stupid. Okay, I have, but this is right up there.

I also saw something so dumb I could not believe it yesterday. When I took down the dish I needed to set up a OTA antenna (rabbit ears) so my daughter at least has some TV to watch. Her Westinghouse 46" LCD TV would not do a OTA channel scan without getting an access code from Westinghouse! I did a web search and found you could sent a text message to get a code. Tried that and it did not work, but they gave you a phone number to call. Tried that and it didn't work but it gave a web address. Finally was able to get a code by putting in the model number and serial number. Why in the world would they require an access code to get a TV to scan for OTA channels? I don't get it.

According to their web site:

Q: Why do I need to enter a tuner code for my television to receive over-the-air broadcasts?A: This enables Westinghouse users to choose a feature that most TV users do not use, receiving over-the-air broadcasts. This choice simplifies TV operation for users who do not intend to receive such broadcasts, such as by avoiding unnecessary channel scans. The access code input enables Westinghouse to accurately count the end users who seek to enable the ATSC tuner, for purposes of royalty reporting (but for the end user, this activation is free). This looks to the future of television design: Digital televisions are beginning to include installable hardware or software features.

Entering a code to use a basic feature of the TV has got to be the dumbest feature that an end user has to deal with. Of course this would apply to somebody just programming a basic cable TV lineup with it too, not just ATSC.

At the price point of Westinghouse, got to wonder if more people are using it this way rather than set top box.

I would bet that they are considering offering Monitor TVs that have no onboard ATSC tuners. That would eliminate any ATSC tuner royalties and would probably be all a large segment of the public wants or needs. This use of codes that they have to issue for performing channel scans allows them to quantify the market before they gear up for any kind of manufacturing numbers.

I know in my kitchen I have a simple 23" ASUS Monitor hooked up via HDMI with a pair of cheap USB powered speakers providing sound. It was cheaper than a full-featured TV would have been.

And I can honestly say I don't use the ATSC tuners on any of my other sets. I get quite a range of OTA channels but I am using the AM21 instead of onboard tuners for the purpose of integration with my satellite service.

I've wondered for a while why more manufacturers didn't have a wider offering of TV size monitors. Maybe the industry is finally figuring it out.

The ATSC tuner could become and add-on product.

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."--Frank Zappa

Early plasma sets had no OTA, quite a few early HD sets had only NTSC/analog cable tuners. Olevia had a few models with no tuner of any kind. I have a client that bought a set at an AF PX and it is such an off brand beast it had no tuner of any kind, no speakers, and the remote code has never been included in any Dish remote. Hate these sets, and I'm not happy reading here about the new Westinghouse tuner access code. They are now on my don't buy/don't recommend/get rid ASAP list. I encounter enough unforeseen problems without 'idjit' manufacturers going out of their way to make installs/servicing harder.

Seems like I recall the neighbors down the street from me have a ED set with no tuners, and no speakers. Glad ED sets never got popular, continuing price drops of 720Ps and 1080s run them from the marketplace.